What Are the Causes of Slab Leaks?

A slab leak occurs when a water line that runs below the concrete floor of a home gets a crack or some other hole that causes it to leak.

There are a few different symptoms that indicate a slab leak. Some signs are more apparent, like moisture or even mildew under carpets or cracks in the walls or floors.

Other signs of a possible slab leak are hearing the sound of water running when no water is on and a place on the floor that feels hot to the touch. A high water bill can also be a sign of a slab leak, though it could also indicate a water leak elsewhere.

What Causes a Slab Leak?

There are several possible causes, yet sometimes it is simply a negative reaction between drinking water and copper pipes. Other causes of slab leaks are corrosion from soil chemicals around the pipe, abrasion from a long term vibration affecting the pipes, shifting ground or a defect in the construction of the piping system.

The best way to repair a slab leak is to have a professional plumber come to the home to fix it. A slab leak is a serious leak that can even affect the whole foundation of your home, so it’s best to hire licensed plumbers who use good materials to fix it. The plumbers should mark all utility lines at the property prior to doing the repair and have the right permits for doing the work.

Then there will be two main ways that the slab leak can be repaired. One way is slab penetration, where the plumber will use a jack hammer to dig a hold to gain access to the leak. However, this means possible damage to floor coverings like carpet or tile, and the possible cost of repairing or replacing these should be factored into the total cost of the repair.

Other Methods

The other method to fixing a slab leak is tunneling, which involves making a path or tunnel underneath the slab. This method is not invasive like the slab penetration method, as there is no need for cutting into the floor to access the leak.

Then depending on the extent of the leak or damage to the pipe, the pipe can be spot repaired or the leak in the original pipe fixed, which often works well for newer construction.

Sometimes it will be necessary to replace the entire pipe or line that was leaking, however, especially if it is older plumbing with a history of leaking. In some cases epoxy pipe coating (a coating applied inside the pipes) may be used if there is a series of small leaks present.

Are you seeing signs of a slab leak in your Downers Grove home? No time to waste here, Call Jim Wagner at (630) 577-9241 to see what is causing that slab leak.